Idiot17, your point is so interesting -- it seems like this is what has changed for me: people no longer notice! Is it because I am getting older? Or dumber?

My boyfriend thought about it and says that he has also noticed this to an extent. His theory is that when we are younger, we put ourselves out there more, are more willing to brag. That kind of behavior is charming in a younger person but not so much in someone who is older.

I think that perhaps people also look more closely at promising youth, in a mentoring way, but figure people should advocate for themselves once they are older.

Zinco, yes, there is some self-sabotage going on. I wish I could stop it.

Pegasus, you captured it perfectly -- I've always felt that my accomplishments had as much to do with luck as anything else (and still feel that way --- how else to explain all the talent that goes wasted and unacknowledged in this world?)

I thought about this some more yesterday and had a few conversations with people. It seems to be a pretty common feeling. I would LOVE to ask one of these people who seems confident with only a very basic experience level what they think about it, if I can come up with a polite way of asking.